Chapter 178: Leon Confesses His Love to Charizard? Raihan Left Heartbroken
The video continued playing.
Miori emerged from the Abyssal Ruins carrying Meloetta in her arms, looking positively triumphant.
She had already planned out the entire scene that would follow.
First, she would open the door dramatically.
Then her father would excitedly pat her shoulder and declare, "As expected of my daughter."
After that, Aunt Cynthia would give her an approving nod.
And if she was particularly lucky, a crowd of reporters might appear from nowhere and begin frantically taking pictures of her.
She had even thought of the headline:
"Ten-Year-Old Girl Infiltrates Underwater Ruins Alone, Thwarts Team Rocket’s Conspiracy, and Rescues Legendary Pokémon."
The more Miori imagined it, the happier she became.
Just before reaching the entrance, she even smoothed down her hair, preparing to welcome her long-awaited heroic moment.
"I’m out!"
Miori pushed open the doors of the ruins, took a deep breath of sea air, spread both arms, and shouted:
"Dad! Aunt Cynthia! I rescued Meloetta! The crisis has been resol—"
Her arms remained spread wide, but the final syllable lodged firmly in her throat.
At some point, an enormous parasol and a folding table had been set up outside the ruins.
A pot of steaming black tea sat on the table, accompanied by a plate of cookies and another plate filled with colorful macarons.
Asher sat leisurely in a chair, drinking tea.
Cynthia sat opposite him, using a small spoon to add sugar cubes to her cup.
"Want a cookie?"
Asher picked one up and waved it toward Miori.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
Miori took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm.
"Drinking tea."
Asher placed the cookie in his mouth and chewed twice.
"Your Aunt Cynthia said the macarons from this place were good. I think they’re rather average, but the cookies are nice and crisp."
"That isn’t what I was asking!"
Miori looked up at the sky.
"Where are the Forces of Nature? The three mind-controlled Legendary Pokémon! You didn’t simply leave them rampaging over the ocean while—"
Asher raised his chin slightly.
Miori followed the direction he indicated.
Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus were stacked on top of one another like a game of Jenga on the floor nearby.
Perfectly matching spirals filled all six of their eyes.
Miori slowly turned back toward Asher.
"...When did you defeat them?"
"About ten minutes after you went inside."
Asher picked up another cookie.
"Then why didn’t you come inside and help me?!"
"We wanted to give you an opportunity to train."
Asher answered without the slightest change in expression.
"Train?!"
Miori pointed at herself.
"Your daughter was surrounded by an entire group of Team Rocket executives! Their leader was there too! And you were comfortable letting me fight them alone?!"
"I was here to serve as your safety net."
Asher rose and brushed the cookie crumbs from his hands.
"Besides, everything turned out well, didn’t it? Meloetta was rescued, the Forces of Nature were dealt with, and you came out unharmed. What is there to complain about?"
"I have something!"
Miori raised her hand.
"My young and fragile heart has suffered severe emotional trauma!"
"How about barbecue tonight?"
Miori remained silent for a moment before lowering her hand.
"Fine."
Cynthia walked over and straightened Miori’s collar, which the sea breeze had blown into complete disarray.
"I already have ingredients prepared at home. We can start cooking as soon as we return."
"Aunt Cynthia is the best!"
Miori’s eyes lit up.
She spread her arms and pulled Cynthia into an enormous hug.
Cynthia froze briefly before the corners of her mouth rose. She gently patted Miori’s back.
"All right, that’s enough. We can discuss the barbecue later."
Asher walked over to the pile of Legendary Pokémon and gave it a light kick.
"Get up. Stop pretending to be unconscious."
All three Forces of Nature simultaneously opened their eyes.
They sprang upright in perfect unison and shot behind Meloetta with a sharp whoosh.
"What are you three doing?"
Miori stared at the scene before her, finding it difficult to associate these Pokémon with the terrifying figures that had rampaged across the ocean moments earlier.
Meloetta floated in front of Miori.
It held one of Miori’s fingers between its tiny hands and looked up at her with sparkling eyes, releasing a soft, sweet cry.
Miori remained silent for a moment.
"Are you trying to say that you want them to travel with me from now on?"
Meloetta and the three Forces of Nature nodded in perfect unison.
"No, no, absolutely not."
Miori crossed her arms to form an X.
"If I catch all three of them, who will regulate Unova’s climate? I’ll take one at most. The other two need to return home."
Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus exchanged glances.
Thundurus was the first to act.
It formed a sphere of electricity in each hand and slammed them directly into Landorus’s and Tornadus’s faces.
Then it immediately threw itself into one of the Poké Balls at Miori’s waist.
Meloetta sat on Miori’s shoulder, swinging its short legs as it waved one little hand toward Landorus and Tornadus.
Its meaning was obvious:
Goodbye, you two. Go back and do your jobs properly.
Landorus and Tornadus exchanged a look.
Both simultaneously released two exceptionally displeased blasts of air through their nostrils before turning and flying into the sky, soon disappearing among the clouds.
They had made their decision.
From this day forward, Thundurus would be officially classified as a traitor.
Whatever events they organized in the future, it would never receive an invitation.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Raihan]: Hahaha! What kind of move was that from Thundurus? It betrayed its coworkers on the spot just to become Miori’s Pokémon!
[Wallace]: Thundurus: We may be brothers, but there’s only one permanent position available. Sorry about this.
[Aaron]: Landorus and Tornadus looked so miserable as they flew away. They were betrayed by their coworker, and now they still have to return to work maintaining the climate.
[Bertha]: That is simply how the workplace is, Aaron. You’ll understand when you’re older.
[Aaron]: Ms. Bertha, I’m already part of the workforce.
[Bertha]: Oh, that’s right. Then you should already understand.
[Aaron]: ...I don’t want to understand.
[Skyla]: Asher really is unbelievable! I was terrified when Miori was surrounded by all those villains, yet he was sitting outside drinking tea!
[Steven]: What do you understand? Brother Asher already said that he was standing by as her safety net! This is what it means to plan everything from behind the scenes!
[Leon]: I genuinely want to know how much Asher paid you to defend him this desperately.
[Steven]: Hmph. The bond between Brother Asher and me cannot possibly be measured with money. You simply don’t understand.
[Leon]: I don’t understand bonds? My bond with Charizard would never lose to anyone’s!
[Raihan]: Why did Leon suddenly start confessing his love?
[Leon]: I wasn’t confessing anything. I was merely stating a fact.
[Diantha]: I recorded it. The title will be: "Galar Champion Passionately Confesses His Love to Charizard—Raihan Left Heartbroken."
[Raihan]: ??? What kind of ridiculous headline is that?!
[Diantha]: Artistic embellishment. What do you think? Doesn’t it have tremendous impact?
[Leon]: Diantha, could you stop using me as material for your headlines every time?
The video continued playing.
A speedboat raced toward them from the direction of Undella Town, its bow slicing through the waves. The spray glittered like countless tiny rainbows beneath the sunlight.
Before the boat had even come to a complete stop, a red-haired elderly man jumped from its bow onto the ruins’ platform.
"Asher, Cynthia, Miori—the success of this operation is largely thanks to the three of you. The Unova League owes you an enormous debt."
Alder extended his hand and shook Asher’s before turning toward Miori.
"Little girl, you charged into those ruins alone, held Giovanni back, and rescued Meloetta. Even in my younger years, I’m not certain I possessed that kind of courage."
"Thank you, Grandpa Alder."
Miori gave him a proper bow.
"But I can’t take all the credit. Without Dad and Aunt Cynthia holding back the Forces of Nature outside, I couldn’t have succeeded alone."
Alder froze for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.
"You refuse to yield even an inch when the credit is rightfully yours, yet you share it decisively when appropriate. You have a better sense of balance than your father."
Miori blinked.
"Did Dad ever battle you, Grandpa Alder?"
"He defeated me more than once," Asher casually interjected.
"Then why didn’t Dad become Champion?"
Asher answered without changing his expression.
"Because I was lazy."
"He’s telling the truth."
Alder sighed before turning back toward Miori.
"Little girl, will you be participating in this year’s League Conference?"
Miori nodded.
"Yes. I’ve collected all eight Badges."
"Then I’ll speak plainly."
Alder crossed his arms.
"I look forward to battling you at the League Conference."
He paused before adding:
"Of course, if you lose before reaching the finals, I’ll be very disappointed."
"I won’t."
Miori puffed out her chest.
"I’m going to become Champion."
"Excellent!"
Alder laughed heartily.
"When the time comes, I’ll be certain to give our battle everything I have."